August 26, 2024
As Global Temperatures Rise, So Does the Potential for Violence
By Evan Robins
Hotter temperatures can increase aggressive behaviors, making violence more likely during the accelerating climate crisis.
ILANA COHEN and THEA SEBASTIAN
(Mario Tama / Getty)
On July 8, about 140 million Americans—more than one-third of the country—were living under a national heat advisory. In what is on track to become another summer of unprecedented heat, heat-related deaths and illnesses are rising. Yet these direct harms are far from the only risks of smoldering summer days. Research shows that as temperatures soar, so does the potential for violence.
Hotter temperatures can increase aggressive intentions and behaviors, making violence more likely as global temperatures continue to rise. A study using data from 100 US cities shows that hotter-than-normal days correlate with a higher risk of shootings—accounting for nearly 8,000 of the total shootings examined. Researchers also found that even moderately hot temperatures were associated with higher risk of gun attacks. Another study linked significant daily mean temperature increases in US cities over a decade-long period with a 4.5 percent increase in sex offenses in the week following such temperatures.
As many US cities experienced their warmest June on record, the US surgeon general declared gun violence a public health crisis–prompted by a string of early summer mass shootings. The accelerating climate crisis is inherently tied to communities’ safety. To protect Americans across the country, our policymakers must invest in a zero-carbon future and a holistic approach to public safety that addresses the root causes of violence and harm.
